“Water of the West” Initiative Moves Forward, Illuminates Issues Close to Home

The University of Idaho’s new interdisciplinary program in water resources, in which the College of Law plays a key role, is beginning to unfold. The program, known as “Water of the West,” will enable law students to study water resource issues along with scientists, engineers, and managers. Law students will be able to pursue concurrent degrees, combining the J.D. degree with Masters or Ph.D. degrees in water resources law, management, and policy. The innovative program will use actual Idaho and regional case studies as central elements of interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship, starting with water issues in the Palouse Basin of Northern Idaho and Eastern Washington.

On October 3, 2006, Law Professor Barbara Cosens collaborated with “Water of the West” faculty in the College of Natural Resources, the College of Science, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, as well as with state and local public officials, policymakers, and consultants, to conduct the second annual Palouse Basin Water Summit. The annual summit provides an ongoing forum to elevate community awareness and understanding of water resource issues as well as to develop directions for, and to obtain feedback regarding, the management of a resource shared by diverse stakeholders. Further information about the annual Palouse Basin Water Summit and the “Water of the West” initiative is available from Professor Cosens at bcosens@uidaho.edu. An introduction to the “Water of the West” initiative is also available on the College of Law website.

College Hosts Expert Panels on International Intellectual Property Law

Law students got a glimpse of technology-based issues and career opportunities on October 19, when the College’s International Law Students Association sponsored two panel programs focusing on intellectual property law and its international dimensions. The programs, ably organized by 3L student Phu Chau, included specialists from Northwest regional law firms, the Xerox Corporation, and the United States Patent & Trademark Office (International Relations Department). The program received support from Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, an international company with headquarters in Pullman, Washington.

Law Students and Faculty Receive Alumni Recognition

Each year the UI Alumni Association bestows Excellence Awards upon students who, in turn, are invited to designate faculty who have most inspired them. On December 8, 2006, the awards for law students went to Anna Eberlin, who entered the law school from the Albertson College of Idaho, and to Kara Gleckler, who came to the law school from Brigham Young University. Ms. Eberlin designated Professor and Clinical Director Maureen Laflin as her most inspiring faculty mentor, and Ms. Gleckler accorded similar recognition to Professor and Associate Dean Elizabeth Brandt.

On November 9-11, 2006, the College of Law hosted the Northwest Regional Round of the National Moot Court Competition. For the first time, the College conducted the competition in Boise, obtaining vital assistance from distinguished members of the southern Idaho bench and bar. An Idaho student team consisting of Chris Christensen, Beth Smethers, and Zachary Thomas won second-place honors in the “best brief” category. A representative of the overall winning team from the University of Washington wrote an unsolicited comment expressing a sentiment widely echoed by student participants and their coaches: "[P]lease accept our sincere thanks and congratulations to you all for a truly outstanding regional competition! … [T]his was definitely the most well-organized and well-run moot court competition that we have attended in recent memory -- we were very honored to have the opportunity to participate and to meet you all in Boise."

The competition was organized by a committee of dedicated law students including Student Bar Association President Pele Peacock, Solmaz Rafiee-Tari, Jacqueline Groff, Matt Sonnichsen, Noah Hillen, and Nikki Owens. Idaho Supreme Court Justices Linda Copple Trout and Daniel Eismann judged the final round, along with Justice Mary Fairhurst of the Washington Supreme Court. Judges of the preliminary rounds included former Chief Justice Charles McDevitt, former Justices Robert Huntley and Cathy Silak, former district judge Duff McKee, Robert Alexander, John Ashby, Walt Bithell, Rebecca Broadbent, Dick Fields, Trudy Fouser, William Fuhrman, Christopher Burke, Kenneth Howell, Cynthia Lee-Wallace, Mark Manweiler, Bill Mauk, Craig Meadows, Joe McCollum, Sheryl Musgrove, David Nevin (who also made keynote remarks at the competition banquet), John Olson, Michelle Points, Larry Prince, James Reid, former United States Attorney Betty Richardson, Lance Salladay, Newal Squyres, Lisa Tanner, and Robert Wetherell. The College of Law is grateful to all of these professional colleagues for their unselfish volunteer service.